What's Crap on WhatsApp?

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four claims doing the rounds ahead of local elections in South Africa:This graphic claiming South African political party DA ‘welcomes all asylum seekers from Africa’ is AI-generated. https://bit.ly/sa_democraticallianceNo, pregnant women in South Africa are not told to ‘bring mattresses or give birth on the floor’. https://bit.ly/sa_pregnantwomenDid South African news outlet eNCA quote Zimbabwe’s president on anti-migrant protests? https://bit.ly/sa_encaAre these job adverts from the South African electoral commission real? https://bit.ly/4sgkF4HYour friends and family can sign up for our show! Tell them to save our number (+27 82 709 3527) and send us a WhatsApp message to confirm.

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims:Have 2 million doses of HIV medication gone uncollected since anti-migrant protests in South Africa? https://bit.ly/hiv_dosesHas Canada restricted work permits or travel for South Africans? https://bit.ly/canada_restrictionThis old video of a protest in Nigeria has been falsely linked to Chidimma Adetshina’s deportation case in South Africa. https://bit.ly/adetshina_protestFalse: Ignore messages claiming social grants in South Africa will be cancelled if beneficiaries use gambling sites. https://bit.ly/45QdiGNYour friends and family can sign up for our show! Tell them to save our number (+27 82 709 3527) and send us a WhatsApp message to confirm.

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims stoking xenophobic tensions in South Africa:Does this video show migrants assaulting white South African men after being told to “go back home” and “get their papers in order”?Does this video show looting at a mall during recent anti-migrant protests in South Africa?Is this graphic, appearing to come from the South African police, warning landlords against renting to undocumented immigrants, real?Has the Spar supermarket chain opened 15,000 new jobs for South Africans after anti-migrant demonstrations?Your friends and family can sign up for our show! Tell them to save our number (+27 82 709 3527) and send us a WhatsApp message to confirm.

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims stoking xenophobic tensions in South Africa:Did Joburg metro police arrest foreigners with stolen traffic lights? https://bit.ly/traffic_lights_stolen Does this video show Democratic Alliance politician Michael Sun complaining about immigrants to South Africa? https://bit.ly/sun_daNo, these images and videos of a Shoprite incident in Nigeria are not from 2026 https://bit.ly/nigeria_shopriteNo, there is no evidence for the viral claim about the legal status of migrants in Durban, South Africa. https://bit.ly/durban_migrantsYour friends and family can sign up for our show! Tell them to save our number (+27 82 709 3527) and send us a WhatsApp message to confirm.

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims:Is Cape Town ‘officially’ a US province? https://bit.ly/capetown_da Are photos of this ‘no South Africans allowed’ protest in Kraaifontein real? https://bit.ly/kraaifontein_protestCan pomegranate prevent or treat cancer? https://bit.ly/pomegranate_cancerDoes this viral videos show a giraffe being injured on a highway? https://bit.ly/giraffe_highwayYour friends and family can sign up for our show! Tell them to save our number (+27 82 709 3527) and send us a WhatsApp message to confirm.

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims:Is the South African government implementing a R1,200 ‘HIV grant’? https://bit.ly/hiv_grantIs South Africa sending troops to help US president Donald Trump wage war in Iran? https://bit.ly/sa_troopsIs the South African government removing English from public schools? https://bit.ly/sa_schoolsIs an ‘illegal immigrant’ contesting a South African by-election? https://bit.ly/sa_byelectionYour friends and family can sign up for our show! Tell them to save our number (+27 82 709 3527) and send us a WhatsApp message to confirm.

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we’re looking at three viral health claims:Will a ‘miracle seed’ treat diabetes, hypertension or gastritis? https://bit.ly/seed_cureWill neem tea kill intestinal parasites and cure a host of other ailments? https://bit.ly/neem_teaIs cancer a parasitic infection that can be cured using herbs? https://bit.ly/cancer_parasiteBonus: Tips for busting false miracle cures and other health misinformation.Your friends and family can sign up for our show! Tell them to save our number (+27 89 709 3527) and send us a WhatsApp message to confirm.

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims:Will helping strangers use their smartphones expose you to ‘AI biometric identity fraud’? https://bit.ly/biometric_identity_fraudIs Zambia’s electoral commission hiring through this link? https://bit.ly/zambia_electoralcommissionThere is no evidence that a Nigerian scammer was arrested by a retired FBI agent in South Africa. https://bit.ly/nigeria_amadiarrestNo, this mixture of Stoney ginger drink and onions will not shrink fibroids or ovarian cysts – visit a doctor instead. https://bit.ly/stoney_onionYour friends and family can sign up for our show! Tell them to save our number (+27 82 709 3527) and send us a WhatsApp message to confirm.

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims:Is something called Gammora really a ‘cure’ for HIV? https://bit.ly/gammora_hivIs this article about South African poaching arrests in Kruger National Park real? https://bit.ly/poaching_arrestsNo, this viral photo does not show a South African city turning red in support of the EFF. https://bit.ly/eff_supportDon’t trust this manipulated image showing a stooped South African defence minister using walking sticks, it has been altered. https://bit.ly/sa_motshekgaYour friends and family can sign up for our show! Tell them to save our number (+27 82 709 3527) and send us a WhatsApp message to confirm.

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims:Has South African tourist hotspot Jeffreys Bay been declared a refuge for tens of thousands of refugees? https://bit.ly/sa_refugeesCan a mixture of Jameson whiskey and garlic cure HIV/Aids? https://bit.ly/whiskey_garlicNo, the nhundurwa fruit cannot reduce toothache and pain. https://bit.ly/nhundurwa_fruitSouth Africa, ignore this AI-generated memorial poster of the Vanderbijlpark school crash victims. https://bit.ly/poster_aiYour friends and family can sign up for our show! Tell them to save our number (+27 82 709 3527) and send us a WhatsApp message to confirm.